Akufo-Addo asking chiefs to stand before greeting him is worrying – Mahama

Former President John Dramani Mahama has expressed concern about the recent actions of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

In a post shared on X on Monday, April 29, 2024, Mahama, the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), said that President Akufo-Addo's behaviour as his tenure comes to an end is becoming worrying.

The former president was particularly not pleased with Akufo-Addo asking chiefs to stand up before they could greet him.

He added that the president's recent remark on who his successor should be is unbecoming and undemocratic.

"The almost eight years of Nana Addo/Bawumia have done extensive damage to our democracy. As the clock ticks towards the end of his mandate, the president's attitude and utterances give much cause for concern. His recent insistence that chiefs stand up to greet him should be a matter of serious consternation for political watchers.

"He also recently stated that he cannot be succeeded by somebody he has defeated in previous elections. This connotes an arrogant nature and smacks an inherently anti-democratic personality, undermining the fundamental principle of the peaceful transition of power," Mahama wrote.

He added, "Nana Addo should be reminded that only the votes of the good people of Ghana and the will of the Almighty God will determine who succeeds him. This reaffirms the people's power in shaping our nation's future."

President Akufo-Addo was recently captured in a viral video clip from a funeral event purportedly ordering some traditional leaders to rise before he greets them.

View Mahama’s post below:

The almost eight years of Nana Addo/Bawumia have done extensive damage to our democracy. As the clock ticks towards the end of his mandate, the President's attitude and utterances give much cause for concern. His recent insistence that chiefs stand up to greet him should be a…

— John Dramani Mahama (@JDMahama) April 29, 2024